Harvard to institute honor code

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Two years after a massive cheating scandal, Harvard College will soon adopt its first-ever honor code to make clearer the institution’s stance on academic integrity.

At a meeting with the faculty of arts and sciences Tuesday, administrators agreed to institute the honor code, according to a statement by the college today. The move follows four years of study on the issue.

Beginning this fall, the college will ask the community to “commit themselves to producing academic work of integrity.” This means submitting work that is properly attributed, according to the statement.

In 2012, students enrolled in “Introduction to Congress” were accused of collaborating on some answers on a take-home final exam. After an investigation, more than half of the 125 students involved were asked to withdraw, in what was deemed the largest Ivy League cheating scandal in recent times.

Harvard faculty also voted to create an honor board, which will handle violations of the code, according to the statement.

Faculty will continue to discuss the logistics of the code, such as whether students will be required to make a written “declaration of integrity” on all assignments, final exams, and projects as a reminder of their obligation to conduct themselves ethically.

With Harvard’s move, Yale becomes the only Ivy League school without an honor code.